Martek and Dean Foods Company Team Up to Expand Products Available with DHA
Under the terms of the new 15-year agreement announced, the product categories have been expanded to include other dairy products, including organic milk and yogurt.
12/03/07 DHA omega-3 innovator Martek Biosciences Corporation announced an agreement with Dean Foods Company which will provide for a 2007 launch, through its subsidiary WhiteWave Foods Company, of new products containing Martek's flagship product, life'sDHA. Under the terms of the original 2006 agreement, Dean Foods' subsidiary, WhiteWave Foods now uses Martek's life'sDHA in Silk Plus DHA. The new agreement will allow WhiteWave Foods to launch a nationally available organic milk containing DHA under the company's Horizon Organic brand. WhiteWave will also launch Rachel's natural yogurt containing DHA, a premium product which will be available nationwide in selected channels.
Joseph Scalzo, president and CEO of WhiteWave said, "DHA is an ingredient that has been shown to provide important health benefits in young children and across the lifecycle. Horizon Organic is the leading organic dairy brand with a proud history of pioneering in healthy, organic products and we look forward to the impact of this ingredient in enhancing our product offerings and once again pioneering our business into new arenas."
"Martek finds it rewarding to partner with the leading processor and distributor of milk and various other dairy products in the United States. I applaud Dean Foods for recognizing the health benefits of Martek's life'sDHA, and I believe that this agreement with Dean will serve as an important step forward towards the widespread use of Martek's life'sDHA in a variety of food and beverage products," said Steve Dubin, CEO of Martek Biosciences Corporation. "We look forward to working with Dean to make DHA, an important nutrient throughout the lifecycle, more readily available to consumers of all ages."
Under the terms of the new 15-year agreement announced, the product categories have been expanded to include other dairy products, including organic milk and yogurt. Dean and WhiteWave have agreed to purchase all of their DHA omega-3 needs from Martek for their products in the United States and other designated territories, subject to limited termination rights. There are no minimum purchase requirements or other financial commitments to Martek. For all products containing life'sDHA, Dean and WhiteWave will display the life'sDHA logo on the product packaging, and will also include the life'sDHA logo in related marketing, advertising and promotional materials.
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) omega-3 is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid that serves as a primary building block for the brain and the eyes and supports brain, eye and cardiovascular health throughout life. There is a large and growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating that people of all ages, from infants to aging adults, benefit from an adequate supply of DHA omega-3 in their diets. Scientific reviews have noted the importance of DHA omega-3 in proper brain and eye function, and there are studies currently underway to investigate its role in decreasing the prevalence of certain neurological disorders. Yet despite its importance, Americans have among the lowest dietary intakes of DHA omega-3 in the world.
Martek's life'sDHA is unique in the market because it is derived from a sustainable and vegetarian source. Made from microalgae under tightly controlled manufacturing conditions, life'sDHA is free of oceanic contaminants that may be present in certain fish or fish oils. Microalgae are the only vegetarian source of DHA omega-3, the key omega-3 for brain and eye development and function.
